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Pain at the pumps result of broken HST promise

Borden-Carleton
– Island
consumers, truckers and businesses are feeling added pain at the pumps on fuel
prices thanks to a broken promise not to raise taxes by the MacLauchlan
government, says Opposition Leader and Opposition Transportation Critic Jamie
Fox.

“Many
Islanders were shocked to see a double whammy on the weekend with fuel price
increases and tax increases from the HST. Island consumers, truckers and
businesses are paying more in fuel costs to travel and do business thanks to the
broken promise by the MacLauchlan government to not raise the HST. Island
consumers and small businesses are hurting and the MacLauchlan government just
doesn’t seem to care,” says Fox.

During
the 2015 provincial election the MacLauchlan Liberals committed to not raise
taxes, fees or levies on Islanders in an all-party policy questionnaire from the
Canadian Federation of Independent Business. Despite that commitment, increases
to fees and levies for a wide range of public services have been increased by
the MacLauchlan government since the last election. Most notably the MacLauchlan
government rammed through an increase to the HST which took effect on October 1,
driving the price of gasoline and diesel fuel higher by more than four cents a
litre.

“Raising
taxes like the HST isn’t going to improve dismal job creation or make it easier
for families to get by. It’ll just make household essentials like fuel more
difficult to afford for more Islanders,” says Fox.

Charlottetown City Councillor Melissa Hilton today announced that she will be seeking the Progressive Conservative nomination for District 11, Charlottetown-Parkdale, in the upcoming provincial by-ele see more